Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling today announced Simon Clarke will join the Green Argyle squad in 2016.  The 29-year-old Australian burst onto the pro cycling scene when he won a stage and the Overall Mountains Classifications at Vuelta a Espana, his first-ever Grand Tour.

Clarke, known as “Clarkey,” has won stages at all three Grand Tours (including Team Time Trial wins at the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia) and is a previous winner of the Herald Sun Tour (2014). In 2015, he was second overall at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and wore the Maglia Rosa after helping his team win the TTT on Stage 1 of the Giro d’Italia.

Clarke cited the feel of the team as a top reason he chose Cannondale-Garmin: “There is a really balanced feel about the team with a nice blend of super talented emerging riders complementing those with greater experience, and I’m very excited to have an opportunity to play my role in the development and future successes of Cannondale-Garmin. I like its vision and feel riding for Cannondale-Garmin will give me fresh opportunities not only for myself, but to help the team achieve its goals.”

Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports and Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling added: “Simon has excellent experience and is a very good road captain. He has the ability to help guide some of our younger riders and is capable of great achievements himself. He will be a fantastic addition to the team.”